Post 574: WONDERFUL VINTAGE RECORDINGS

Reader and tuba player Roger Menning wrote to tell me he has recently formed The Wild Rumpus Jazz Band in Chicago. I look forward to the band's development and hope there will soon be some YouTube videos.

Roger also wondered whether I had come across the YouTube channel of a videomaker codenamed BassetHoundTrio. Roger thought I might find it interesting.

Well, interesting it certainly is. May I pass on the recommendation to all of you? BassetHoundTrio has put up a collection of nearly 300 videos, in which precious 78s from the 1920s are played on beautiful and great-sounding antique gramophones. Many of the recordings feature early dance bands playing tunes that have become part of the traditional jazz repertoire. The videos also provide information about the songs, the bands and the gramophones used. What a wonderful resource BassetHoundTrio has provided for us. If by any chance he reads my blog, I send him sincere thanks.

Try these for starters, and then explore others:

(1) 'Positively - Absolutely' played by Jan Garber and His Orchestra: CLICK HERE.

(2) 'You're the Cream in My Coffee' played by Ted Weems and His Orchestra: CLICK HERE.

Wonderful stuff! Thanks very much, Roger, for leading me to these performances.

Post 448: USING THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH JAZZ

I often receive requests and suggestions from readers concerning what I should write about. For example: 'How about an article on the life and work of George Lewis, the great clarinet player, who died in 1968?'

Writing such an article would involve me in a great deal of time and research. And I would be unable to come up with anything new - that is to say, anything not already available if you search for it on the internet.

I don't want to spend my time, as the saying goes, 're-inventing the wheel'. That is why I do not tackle such subjects.

So today may I point out to you that there is a vast amount of information available if you care to look for it. Wikipedia is obviously a possible starting point. And there are many sites specifically related to our kind of music.

I would like specially to mention one you may not have come across. The full 15-volume archive of the magazine New Orleans Music (incorporating Footnote) has been placed at our disposal by some fine, generous and dedicated people. They have gone to the enormous trouble of providing a large Index, which leads you to information about the musicians and bands (including many of the more obscure) who were important in the history of our music from the end of the Nineteenth Century onward. The magazine ceased publication in 2010.

To discover these riches, CLICK HERE.

Post 310: HOW TO IMPROVISE - HELP IS AVAILABLE

Mr. John P. Birchall is a great enthusiast and educator in the field of traditional jazz. I have never met John but I became aware of him through the internet. I have exchanged emails and materials with John and he has always helped me with great kindness and generosity.

I want to tell you that John has - on his website - a mass of thoughtful, well-structured information that is intended to help anyone who is trying to play the music and perhaps finding it difficult to get to grips with the structures of harmonic progressions and with improvising.

For access to this wonderful resource (for which many thanks, John):

CLICK HERE.

Post 288: DICK BAKER'S GREAT RESEARCH AND WEB SITE

In 2013 I had an e-mail from Dick Baker, whom I did not previously know. This in turn led me to discover Dick's website:
CLICK HERE.

What a tremendous resource for all traditional jazz enthusiasts this is! I cannot recommend it too highly.

Dick has listed in alphabetical order nearly 4000 tunes from the traditional jazz canon. Here's a typical page. There are currently over 400 such pages.

With every title, Dick has given wherever possible the date of composition and the name(s) of the composers. There often follows a mini-essay in which he discusses such matters as controversies about the composition, alternative versions, and recordings of the piece.

It is hard to imagine what an intense labour of love this project has been (and still is). It must have cost Dick (and others) hundreds of hours of painstaking research and writing.  We are all deeply indebted to him.

Post 245: MEET MR. FRED BURNETT

I do not know Mr. Fred Burnett personally but - if you have not already heard of him - I must make you aware of this gentleman who (from Preston in the north-west of England) is providing a great service to traditional jazz.

Fred runs a website:

http://www.jazznorthwest.co.uk/

When I last looked, the site had 558 pages of news and views about our music. What a massive amount of work Mr. Burnett has put into it over the years!

He also provides helpful links to dozens of bands and jazz-related websites the world over.

Fred of course gives plenty of information about the current traditional jazz scene in the north-west of England. Even though that happens to be some distance from where I live, I enjoy reading Fred's writings and the contribution that enthusiasts send in.

I have also subscribed to Fred's Mailing List. Consequently I regularly receive an invaluable Newsletter in my emails two or three times a week. You too can receive the Newsletter (you can find the instructions within the website).

The website offers so much information about bands and the music, as well as recommended videos and recordings. We are all deeply indebted to Fred.

Post 242: THE JAZZ GUIDE (U.K. MONTHLY MAGAZINE)

I have mentioned the British Jazz Guide before.

This excellent publication was founded in 1973 by a couple living in the English Midlands - Bernie and Lynda Tyrrell. At first, it was a single folded sheet of A4, in black and white. They built it up over many years to the glossy A5 44-page magazine that it is today. Sadly, both Bernie and Lynda died not many months ago. The British jazz public owes them a great debt of gratitude.

Fortunately for us all, the magazine has been taken over by the publishers Cheney Graphics Ltd., 7 Blackwell End, Potterspury, Near Towcester, NN12 7QE. They also have a Jazz Guide website at:

www.thejazzguide.co.uk

The magazine is free. That is to say, it has no cover price. It is distributed at several jazz clubs and by some jazz bands. However, if someone in the U.K. wants to receive it in the post every month, they can do so on a modest payment for six months - to cover postage and packing. Have a look at the website if you are interested.

What does the magazine contain? Hardly ever does it have any articles about jazz. But what it offers are the following invaluable pieces of information:-

(1) details about dozens of traditional jazz bands playing in England (and a few in Wales and Scotland).

(2) a day-by-day list of the traditional jazz public performances coming up in the pubs, clubs and other venues throughout the month. These are listed by regions.

(3) advertisements for traditional jazz festivals (typically held over a full weekend at a seaside resort).

(4) advertisements for festivals overseas, including package tours for jazz fans (for example, to New Orleans).

(5) advertisements for particular jazz venues.

(6) advertisements by sellers of specialist jazz CDs.

What a great service to traditional jazz!